Machine for spreading and surfacing



A.TN. NICKERSON Re- 20,611

MACHINE FOR SPREADING AND SURFACING ROAD MATERIAL Original Filed Aug. 4,1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ira/W237 mid firm; W

Jan. 4, 1938. A. N. NICKERSON 20,611

MACHINE FOR SPREADING AND SURFACING ROAD MATERIAL Original Filed Aug. 4,1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 4, 1938. A. N. NICKERSON 20,511

MACHINE FOR SPREADING' AND SURFACING ROAD MATERIAL Original Filed Aug.4, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 J Af:-

7&6

72707 firm/a Jan. 4, 1938. A. N. NICKERISONI 20,511

MACHINE FOR SPREADING AND SURFACING ROAD MATERIAL Original Filed Aug. 4,1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 spread by it.

Reissuecl Jan. 4, 1938 25 Claim.

One object of my invention is to provide a machine adapted to spread alayer of road material having an even surface over a comparativelyuneven base.

- ditions of road building, including means to compensate for the sidethrust due to such regulation so that the machine will substantiallyfollow in the track of the vehicle drawing it.

Other objects will appear as the following description proceeds.

Of the accompanying drawings forming a. part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a machine e'nibodving the invention.

Figure 2 shows in perspective a portion of one of the runners and afloating curb associated therewith to confine road -material at one sideof the path oi the runner.

Figure 3 is a sideview of the machine. Figure 4 is a i'ragmental sectionon line 4-4 a of Figure 3.

Figure 4a is a view similar to a portion of I Figure 4 showing one f therunners slightly raised from its path.

Figure 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Figure 3 showing the leveling plow,and the means for adjusting it.

Figure 6 is a fragmental section on line 66 of Figure 3.

Figure 7 is a section on line 1-| of Figure 6. n

Figure 8 is a fragmental section on line 8! of Figure 1.

Figure 9 is a fragmental sectional view showing hopper.

Another object is to provide a machine adapted to regulate the width ofa layer of road material to any desired degree to meet the difierentcon- UNITED STAT-ES PATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOR SPREADING AND SURFACINGROAD MATERIAL Alma N. Nickel-son, Plymouth, Mass.

Original No. 1,970,391, dated August 14, 1934, Se- .rlal No. 683,635,August 4, 1933. Application for reissue November 11, 1935, Serial No.

Figure 1; is a perspective view of the contracting device shown byFigure 11.

Figure 13, is a i'ragmental perspective view showing a clevis attachedto the hopper and constituting an element of means connecting the 5machine with .a motor vehicle.

Figure 14 is a section on the plane indicated by line I-il| of Figure13, showing a portion of a chain engaged with the clevis.

Figure 15 is a tragmental section on the plane 1 indicated by line I5i5of Figure 8, showing a portion of the hopper, the gate, a portion of theplow, and gate operating means associated with the hopper, the gatebeing'closed.

Figure 16 is a view similar to Figure 15 showing 15 the gate opened.

Figure 17 is a sectional view showing the hopper gates removed from thehopper.

Figure 18 is a diagrammatic view showing a tractor connected with themachine, and i1lus- 2 trating' another phase of the spreading operation.

Figures 19 to 23 show a diflerent embodiment of the invention.

V The same reference characters indicate the 3;

same parts in all of the figures.

The machine includes a frame supported by elongated runners, andconstructed to carry at its forward portion a transversely extendinghop-- per designated as a whole by a, and behind the go hopper ascreeding or strike-oi! member comprising an acute angled, verticallyadjustable, leveling plow designated asa whole by b.

The frame is adjustable to vary the width of the machine and thedistance between the run-' 36 ners.

Each runner is designated as a whole by c, and .is preferably channelledas shown by Figures 2 and 4, so that it includes a bottom 20 slidable ona rqad base 2! (Figure 4) and side walls 22 and 23 4 upstanding from thebottom, the forward 'end of each runner having an upwardly inclined noseportion (Figure 2), permitting it to slide freely over uneven surfaces.

The frame may be of any, suitable construction, and in this instanceincludes two spaced apart angular beams called bridging beamsattachecl'at their ends to the runners and bridging I the spacetherebetween. One of said beams is designated by g and the other by e,in Figures 1 and 3.

The bridging beams g and e are sectional and each is composed of angularend sections "(Figure 6), bolted 'at 21 to the end portions of therunners c, and a horizontal intermediate section I 29 connecting theangular sections and extending crosswise of the machine. The angular endsections are adjustable on the intermediate section 29 to vary thedistance between the runners, and are secured at any adjustment byclamps 3|, which may be constructed as shown by Figure '1, or otherwisei The beam 9 extends across and above the leveling plow, and the beam eextends along the front side of the hopper, and is lower than the I beamd, as indicated by Figure 3.

The frame includes also longitudinal horizontal beams secured to theends'of the hopper, (Figure 4), and to the ends of the fixedbeamsections 28 (Figure 6). 7

The hopper a has a receiving mouth formed to receive road materialdischarged from a truck body to which the machine is coupled, preferablyby chains 33 engaged with hooks 38 on the truck body and clevises dwhich are bolted -at to the ends of the hopper, or other suitableportions of the forward portion of the machine.

Each clevis is preferably a bracket formed as shown by Figures 13 and14, said bracket including a base portion 34 and an arm portion 38havinga slot i'l'formed to receive a chain link and stand'between andabut ends of two adjacent links, as indicated by Figure '14.

The hopper is relatively narrow and in its front and rear walls aresteeply inclined. The front wall, best shown in Figure 8, extends to anelevation not too'high to permit dumping material from a truck into thehopper. The bottom edge of the front wall of thehopper terminates at anelevation above the subgrade greater than the thickness of material tobe spread, so as to permit material to flow forward thereunder at itsnatural angle of repose and to permit aconsiderable portion of theweight of material within the hopper to be supported directly on thesubgrade.

The hopper has at delivering outlet 39 (Figure 9) formed to permit astream of'road material 4D to flow vertically upon a road base 2 l, andend openings of substantial size (Fi ures 3, 4 and 8) to permit streamsof material to flow from the ends of the hopper as well as through thebottom outlet 35. Opposite each said end opening" is a plate mounted onand projecting upwardly from the adjacent runner (Figures3 and 4). Theseplates prevent material which is discharged through the end openingsofthe hopper from flowing past or outside of the runners.

The hopperhas an inclined rear. wall containing a guiding recess 42(Figure 8) in which an elongated gate 43 is slidable in an inclinedpath. One function of said gate is to determine the amount of materialwhich flows back to the leveling plow;b, this function being illustratedby .qFigure 9. Another function of the gate 43 is illustrated by Figure18, and will be describedin connection with said figure.

- The gate 43 is adjustable to vary its height by means, which as hereshown, include screw threaded adjusting rods 44 engaged with ilxed Therods sockets 48 fixed to opposite ends of thegate 43, said gate being.therefore adjusted by endwise -movements cfthe rods 44. The position ofthe fgate43 determines the amount of material 40 which flows-back to theleveling plow b. If the lower end of the gate is higher above the road1| base than the material-spreading bottom surface of the plow, there.will be a surplus of material which will increase the width of thelayer spread by the plow. The gate is therefore a regulator of the totalwidth of road surface spread ratherthan the depth of the layer. 1 l

The gate 43 is provided at its midlength portion with an outlet opening48 (Figure 17), and

with oppositely movable supplemental gates 50 andil adapted to open andclose said opening.

The supplemental gates 50, It constitute another element of means forpreventing lateral movement of the machine, these gates being'operableby levers 56 and connecting rods 51 to quickly open and close the outletopening 49 to any extent required to direct a greater or lesser amountof material to either side of the plow for laterally. The plow acts as aspreader and may be made of any desired shape'that will spread thematerial laterally. I have shown it as pointed and V-shaped, though itis not intended to limit the invention to such shaped spreader or to onewith a pointed end, although that is the preferred form of spreader.

The two sides of the V-shaped plow diverge rearwardly, from the acuteangled forward end. as shown by Figure 1, and are preferably providedwith a V-shaped shoe constituting the leveling edge or surface of theplow. Said shoe. as shown by Figures 8 and 9, includes a flange portion60 bolted at ii to the body of the plow, and a leveling portion 82joined to the flange portion by a rounded nose portion 63. The levelingportion 62 has a bottom face of substantial width 'whichslopesdownwardly and rearwardly at a small angle to the horizontal. The shoethus formed is adapted to impart a smooth top surface to a layerof roadmaterial being spread, when said material is crushed stone, to causeflat indicated by Figure 9.

The plow b is vertically adjustable, so that the depth of a surfacinglayer and the contour of the layer may be varied. To this end, I provideltd-- justing means, preferably embodied in three screw, threadedadjusting rods 84 engaged with 'fixednuts 8| ,(Figure 5), and havingball-shaped lower ends 38 contained in sockets 61 fixed to the plow, oneof the adjusting rods 64 being located near the apex of theplow, and theother two near the rear ends of the plow sides, as shown by Figure 1.The'flxed sockets are corresp'ondingly located, and the arrangement issuch that the plow may be variously adjusted by rotating the rods. Forexample, the plow may be adjusted only by rotation of the-forward rod 64to vary the inclination of the leveling surface or shoe of the plow, orby rotation of each of the rods, to raise or lower the plow to maintainits leveling surface at any desired height, and substantially parallelwith the road bed. i The nut BI engaged with the forward adjusting rod84 may be secured, as shown by Figure 8, to a a longitudinally extendingsupporting'bar or beam '88, forming a fixed element of the frame,

and the socket 81 engaged with'the forward rod may be secured to across-bar ll (Figures 1 and 8;) attached to the plow.

The nuts engaged with the two rear adiusting rods 64 may be attached toa fixed transverse frame member Ii (Figure 1), extending between,

and fixed to, the longitudinal frame members 80.

The plow b is formed and arranged to form a leveled area ofpredetermined width on material deposited on the road bed in the path ofthe plow by the hopper. Any excess material thus deposited is forcedlaterally by the plow outside said area, sometimes from both edges, andsometimes from only one edge of the area.

A second strike-off member shown in Figure 1 as an obtuse angled plowdesignated by j is located behind the acute angled leveling plow b, andis adjustable vertically so that it 'may stand with its lower edgeslightly lower than that of the plow b, the object of the secondary plowbeing .to lightly scrape or finish the surface of the spread material.The secondary, or finishing including three screw threaded adjustingrods I I engaged with fixed nuts on the frame, and having hand wheels IIand ball-shaped lower ends contained in sockets fixed to the secondaryplow. Extensions ll may be pivoted at I to the side portions of thesecondary plow and secured in different positions relatively thereto, bysegments 85 fixed to said side portions, and perforated to receivelocking pins engaging the side portions of the secondary plow.

The bottom, or outlet, of the hopper may be contracted by anindependently formed wedgeshaped chute shown by Figures 11 and 12, tofurther vary the width of a layer of material spread by the machine.Said chute is composed plates 85 pivotally connected with each other atI, so that the width and taper of the chute may be varied as indicatedby dotted lines in Figure 12. When-the chute is inserted in the hopper,its opposite edges bear on inclined portions of the chute walls, andcontract the chute outlet so that material is allowed to escape throughonly one end portion of the outlet. as indicated by Figure The runners care elongated andextend from the forward to the rear portion of themachine, and preferably from points near the truck without interferingtherewith, to points abreast the rear ends. of the V-shaped plow b, asshown by Figure 1, so that they do not interfere with the distributionof the road material behind the plow. The runners therefore are formedto have elongated bearings on the road bed and adapted to bridge hollowsbetween raised portions thereoLand glide over such raised portions, andeffectively support the machine.

'Ihe inner sidewalls 22 of the channeled runnets are of a width greaterthan the predeter-.

mined depth of a layerof road material spread by'the machine, sothat-their upper edges are spaced above" the road beda substantialdistance, preferably about nine inches. As indicated by Figure theycontact with the-road material ll in such manner that said materialguides the runners in predetermined straight paths, and prevents sidesway of the machine from a predetermined path. It will be seen,therefore, that the runners, characterized as above stated, per-' formthe dual function of distributing the weight of the machine over anelongated road base portion and thereby guiding it unobstructedly andeasily over inequalities in said portion, and preventing side sway ofthe machine. The runners are spaced apart so that they define-theopposite edges ofthe spread layer of material ll, said maaacn terialbeing forced by the spreading action of the plow directly against theinner sides of the run-.-

plow, may be adjusted by means like that above Figure described foradjusting the plow b, said means of two tapering or approximatelywedge-shaped 11. The chute may be inserted in either end' portion of thehopper.

ners. The runners need not,- however, constitute the sole support of themachine. The surfacing machine may be connected to a truck by chainsfastened to theforward end of the surfacing machine in such manner thatas the truck moves forward, some lifting. actionis exerted on thesurfacing machine; The lower'edges of the plow b ride on the spreadmaterial, tending to compress it, thereby carrying some of the weight ofthe machine. Supplemental means for preventing side slip of the machinemay be provided by longitudinally extending thin plates or fins 53,there being a fin at each side of the iongitudinal center of themachine, as shown by Each fin is attached at its forward end to an arm58 fixed to the rear wall of the hopper and at its rear end to an arm 54fixed at 55 to a runner 0. These fins enter the material being spread,and each acts like the center board of a boat in minimizing lateralmovement ofthe body to which it is attached.

It is seldom that a road is builtof such width that all of the materialmay be spread by one operation. I have found that itis practicallyimpossible to spread any road material a distance oversixte'cn feet,regardless of the shape. of the plow, the weight of the machine, and thepower used to draw it, for the simple reason that the road material isof such nature that its units do not move freely in a horizontaldirection under pressure, but tend to build up to a considerable heightwithin a limited area, without much spreading horizontally. The roadmust therefore be built by spreading two or more layers edge to edge. Inmany instances ,the spreading is done between road. shoulders base orbed; and secondly, that the spreading plow-be firmlyconnected with therunners and be immovable vertically and horizontally relative theretowhen the machine is in operation. Any loose independent movement ofeither of these elements would cause inequalities in the ,finishedsurface. It will be seen that the plow and the runners of my machinearerigidly connected with each other, the plow being vert1- cailyadjustable, and the runners being laterally adjustable, as described, tovary the space ,between them, the illustrated adjusting means permittingquick and convenient adjustment of the runners.

Quick adjustment of the runners is important because a road is usuallygradually widened at a curve to a maximum width, and then gradual- -lynarrowed to the end of the curve. In practice I have found it impossiblefor truck drivers to keep their trucks in a predetermined straight linerThe runners. of my machine characterized as described compensate .forthis inability'an'd enable the operatorto keep the road material inacertain predetermined area even though the machine may depart fromapredeterminedline.

To the inner side of each runner c is pivoted by a rod 88 fixed to therunner, a floating curb plate I! (Figures 1 and 2) which is permitted bya slot 80 to rise and fall edgewise and bear along its entire length onthe road bed, even though the front-of the machine and the runners arelifted slightly from the road'bed by a fragment of the road material, asindicated by Figure 4a, thus preventing; any considerable number offragments from being lodged under the runner and raising the entiremachine including the levelling surface of the plow.

To the outer end of each runner is rigidly secured by bolts li adeflector plate 92 (Figures 1 and 2), having an oblique forward endportion 83 arranged to sweep fragments, dirt, and other obstacles fromthe path of the runner.

Another use of the machine is shown diagrammatically by'Figure 18 inwhich 94 designates material roughly piled or windrowed on the road bed.The machine is connected as by the chains 33 with a tractor 95, whichtravels over the-material 94. .The hopper space, open at its bottom,thus becomes an open bottomed receiver into which the material is firstlifted by the lifting action of the inclined gate 43, and from which thelifted material is subsequently deposited on the road bed'by gravity tocom-.

plete a layer previously formed, but not of sufflcient depth.

I provide a bottomless enclosure or receptacle at each side of the rearportion of the machine adapted to accumulate road material at the rearends of the runners, drag the same forward over a layer of spreadmaterial and permit the dragged material to' drop into hollows which maybe left in the surface of the layer, and stroke the dropped materialleaving it flush with properly located portions-of said surface.

,The bottomless receptacles or drags shown by Figure l comprise outerwings 11 having forward ends connectedby hinges 8 9 with the rear endsof the runners, and inner strike-off members or wings I! having forward.ends connected! by hinges II with the frame atpoints adiacentthe rearends of the plow, and rear ends coupled at 19 to the rear ends of theouter wings, preferably by bolts entering orifices in the wings, asshown by Figure I. Said wings have side faces perpen-,

dicular to the road base, and leveling lower edges spaced above saidbase, said edges being' designated by ll in Figure 3. The wings formbottomless receptacles open at their forward ends" and adapted tocollect surplus material left in their path by the plow, and permit suchmaterial to drop into hollows in the surface. of the spread material.Said receptacles are also adapted to collect material from high placesleft on the lay- 'er and drop the same into hollows or low places.

Thebottomless receptacles or drags shown by Figures 19 to 23 comprisewings I! having for:

by hinges II with the frame at points adjacent the rear ends of theleveling plow b, and rear endscoupled to the rear ends of the outerwings I! by loose coupling means, includingin this inabove said base,and form bottomless angular receptacles adapted to function like thereceptacles first described.

The receptacles formed by the wings 98 and 88 are simultaneously andbodily adjustable laterally to vary the obliquity of their side faces,and the distribution by the receptacles of material collected thereby,the adjustability being such that the receptacle may cause simultaneousI engaged with the midle ngth portion of the rod to move the latterendwise, the engagement being preferably'effected by a stud I01 fixed tothe rod, and extending through a slot I08 in the lever.

Detent members are provided to confine the. I

lever in any position to which it is movable. Said members preferablyinclude a sector I09 fixed to the frame, and having an'arcuate row ofholes, either of which may receive a pin I I engaged with the lever.

It will now be seen that the bottomless recentalcles maybe bodily movedto the positions shown by Figure 19,- to add equal quantities of.leveled material to each edge of the area leveled by the plow, and tothe positions shown by Figure 21 to add'more leveled material to oneedge of said area than to the opposite edge. An operator walking behindthe machine manipulates the lever I" to bodily move the receptacles, andcause such distribution as may be required by different conditions. Forexample, the material base, asshown by Figure 21.

The bottomless receptacles outside the spaced apart rear ends ofthe ploware important elements of the machine, enabling the road material to beuniformly surfaced regardless of varying conditions of the road bed,said receptacles being adapted to carry along excess road material anddrop enough of it to fill low places in the roadand to receive andremove excess material from high places. The bottomless receptacles areing demand for material to compensate for these irregularities. If theregulating plate 43 on the back side of the hopper a be raised topermit. a

- discharge of more material than" is required. there will be aspillage. at the rear ends of the plow be taken care of by hand. Saidbottomlessreceptacles are adapted to carry along excess material toprovide for low places, no hand labor being required. a

The rear ends of the spreading plow are arranged to carry the roadmaterial outside the rear ends of the runners. This is necessary in roadwork, because curb stones and such removable objects are often put inplace before the application of the surfacing material.

My machine, characterized as above, provides means for spreading undervarious-conditions, for example, when it is desired to spread a narrowstrip of material beside another strip previously 60 b which, withoutthe bottomless receptacles must already described, a very desirableeffect.

will also be noted that the lower or scraping edges spread. It will beseen that a runner ,0 overlapping on a first spread or layer of roadmaterial is adapted to cut its way to the road bed through the loosematerial, and, while operating in this manner, material will be placedin the additional width, and any imperfection caused by the driving oftruck wheels over the previously spread stone will be ironed out in thenatural course of events. The groove made by a runner c in the looseroad material will be closed up and. ironed out by the correspondingbottomless receptacle.

In view of the fact that the width of the supporting frame and thedistance between the runners are variable as already described, I makethe connecting rod I03 telescopic so that its length may be varied.Saidrod may be composed of two end sections Ill and intermediatesections Ill, (Figure 20). The lever I I! is connected by the stud I01with the intermediate section, and orifices 5 are formed in the endsections receiving bolts H6 adjustably connecting the end sections withtheintermediate section.

It will now be seen that the machine is capable of spreading a smoothsurfaced layer on a somewhat uneven base; the relatively long channelledrunners being adapted to bridge depres-' sions in the base, so that thebottom-of the layer conforms to such depressions, and its top issmoothly finished.

The channelled runners, as already stated, are adapted to retain withindefinite limits, material spilled from a truck. 7 1

The means provided for preventing side slip, or lateral deviation, ofthe machine from the desired path or course, and the various other features of the machine, imparting thereto the de scribed advantages, areimportant factors.

It will be noted that the spreading edges 62 of the spreading plow b areslanted downwardly toward the road surface as indicated by Figures 8 and9, so that in the case of stone or other fragmentary material said edgeshave a tendency to turn the flat sides of fragments upward,

of the wings constituting the bottomless receptacles are arranged toextend this turning action on fragments in their paths. The result "isthat in the case of both hot and cold mixtures which include stickysubstances such as tar or asphalt, the surface fragments are held to thesurface of the spread road material by the pressure exerted by thespreading edges of the plow b and by the scraping edges of said wings,and there held in place while said edges are passing over the material.

I claim:

1. A road surfacing machine comprising incombination two elongatedparallel runners, a hopper between the runners. the hopper being adaptedto receive material to be spread and deliver it between the runners, therunners extending rearwardlypf the bonnet and restraining the to eachother and to the rear ends of the runners and the plow, said receptaclesbeing open at their forward ends and formed and arranged to receive andcarry. forward surplus material spread by-the plow, drop the same intohollows in the spread surface behind the plow, and level the droppedmaterial, means connecting said receptacles with each other, and meansfor confining said receptacles in predetermined positions relative toeach other.-

3. A road surfacing machine as specified by claim 1, comprising alsobottomless receptacles composed of scraping wings pivotally connected toeach other and to the rear ends of the runhers and the plow, saidreceptacles being open at their forward ends and formed andarranged toreceive and carry forward surplus material spread by the plow, drop thesame into hollows in the spread surface behind the plow, and level thedropped material, means connecting said receptacles with each other, andmeans for confining said scraping wings in predetermined positionsrelative to each other, said confining means being organized tolaterally adjust said scraping wings so that either bottomlessreceptacle formed thereby may project laterally outward from the runnerand the plow side with which it is associated to cause the .material bya V-shaped'shoe including a rounded outer portion and a sloping'fiangeportion joined to, and extending rearwardly therefrom, said shoe beingformed to impart a smooth surface to the material being spread, and turnupward flat surfaces of stone fragments to impart a mosaic effect to theroad surface.

5. A road surfacing machine as specified by. claim 1, comprising also asupporting frame mounted on the runners, and plow-adJusting meanssupported by the frame and connecting the plow therewith, said adjustingmeans including an element independently connecting the apex portion ofthe plow with the frame, and two elements independently connecting therear end portions of the plow with the frame, each of said elementsincluding a screw threaded rod engaged with a fixed nut on the frame andhava ing a ball-shaped end, and a socket fixed to the plow and receivingsaid ball-shaped end.

6. A road surfacing machine as specified by claim 1, comprising alsomeans for adjusting the distance between the runners.

7. A' road surfacing machine as specified by claim 1, comprising also anadjustable gate for the hopper for regulating the quantity of materialspread by the hopper, a frame mounted on the runners, the plow beingformed and arranged to form aleveled area of predetermined width onmaterial deposited in the path of the plow by the hopper, the machinecomprising also means for distributing and leveling surplus materialforced by the plow outside the leveled area, said means being embodiedin outer wings having forward ends hinged to the runners, and innetwings having forward ends hinged to the rear end portion ofthe plow, andrear ends coupled to the rear end of the outer. wings, said wings havingside faces perpendicular to the road base and leveling lower edgesspaced above said base, the wings forming angular bottomless receptaclesopen at their forward ends and adapted to collect and drop surplusmaterial.

8. A road surfacing machine as specified by claim 1, comprising also anadjustable gate .for the hopper for regulating the quantity of materialspread by the hopper, a frame mounted on therunners, the plow beingformed and arranged to form a leveledarea of predetermined width onmaterial deposited. in the path of the plow by the hopper, the machinecomprising also means for distributing and leveling surplus materialforced by the plow outside the leveled area, said means being embodiedin outer wings having forward ends hinged to the runners,'and innerwings having forward ends hinged to the plow adjacent the rear endsthereof and rear ends coupled to the rear end of the outer wings, saidwings having side faces perpendicular to the road base and levelingloweredges spaced above said base, the wings forming angular bottomlessreceptacles open at the forward ends and adapted to collect and dropsurplus materialfsaid means including also a connecting rod pivoted toande'xteriding between the inner wings of the receptacles, a hand leverpivoted to the frame and engaged'with the mid length portion of said rodto move the latterendwise, and detent mambers adapted to confine thelever in any position to. which itfl is movable, the rear ends "of thewings of each receptacle beingloo'selycoupled togetheri 9. A roadsurfacing machine as specified by claim 1, comprising also an adjustablegate for the hopper for regulating the quantity of material spread bythe hopper, a frame moun'tedon the runners, and an obtuse angledscraping or finishing plow supported by the frame behind the levelingplow, means being provided for maintaining the lower edge of thefinishing plow lower than that of the leveling plow.

10. A road surfacing machine as.specified by claim 1, comprising also anadjustable gate for 'the hopper for regulating the quantity of materialspread by the hopper, a frame mounted on the runners, an obtuse angledscraping or finishing plow supported by the 'frame behind the levelingplow, means being provided for maintaining the lower edge of thefinishing plow lower than thatof the leveling plow, the scraping plowbeing provided with swinging extensions and with means for maintainingsaid extensions in any positions to which theymay be swung.

11. A road surfacing machine as specified by claim 1, comprising also anadjustable gate for the'hopper for regulating the quantity of materialspread by the hopper, a frame mounted on the rlmners, an obtuse angledscraping or finishing plow supported by the frame behind the levelingplow, means being provided for maintaining the lower edge of thefinishing plow lower than that of the leveling plow, said runners beingprovided with inner side walls perpendicular to a road base, and withfloating curbs pivotally connected with said walls and adapted to bearconstantly on the road base.

2. A road surfacing machine as specified by claim 1, comprising also anadjustable gate for the hopper for regulating the quantity of materialspread by the hopper, a frame mounted on the runners, an obtuse angledscraping or finishing plow supported by the frame behind the levelingplow, means being provided for maintaining the lower edge of thefinishing plow lower than that of the leveling plow, said runners beingprovided with upwardly projecting outer side walls and outerlongitudinal edges. I

claim. 1, comprising also an approximately wedgeshaped chute looselyinsertable inthe hopper and formed to contract the outlet thereof anddirect road material toward an end portion of said outlet, the chutebeing reversible so that the material .may be directed towardeither endportion of the outlet, said chute being composed of two approximatelywedge-shaped plates pivotaily connected at their midlength portions, andadapted to be adjusted relative to each other to vary the width of theiropposite ends and the inclination of their 15. A road surfacing machineas specified by claim 1, comprising side sway opposing longitudinal'fins supported by the machine at oppositesidesof the longitudinal centerthereof and between the runners, said fins having opposite side facesperpendicular to a road base, the side faces of said fins being arrangedto contact with and be guided hopper.

16. A road surfacing machine as specified by claim 1, comprising alsomeans associated with the vhopper for selectively directing materialdelivered thereby toward either side of the apex of the plowQ f j 1'7. Aroad surfacing machine asspecified by claim 1, 'saidhopper havinganinclined rear wall partly defining the discharging outlet of the hopper,an inclined adjustable gate" guided by the said rear wall, and movablein an inclined path into and out of said outlet, and means for pair ofsupplemental gates independently movable in opposite directions in saidopening to per-' mit side sway opposing discharge of material 'at eitherside of the path of said plow, means being provided for independentlymoving said supplemental gates.

18. A road surfacing'machine comprising in combination two elongatedparallel runners, a.

' hopper between therunners, the hopper being adapted to receivematerial to be spread and deliver it between the runners, -the runnersextending rearwardly of the hopper and restraining the I sidewlse spreadof the material discharged from the hopper as the machine is movedforward on a road bed, means for regulating the discharge of materialfrom the hopper, means adjustable lateraliy relative to the runners forlaterally spread- .ingmaterial behind the hopper to a greater width thanthe length of the hopper, and means for adjusting the distance betweenthe runners.

by road material delivered by the i 19. A roadsurfacing machinecomprising, in combination, two elongated parallel runners; a framesupported on the runners, a hopper of less length than the distancebetween the runners supported on the frame, means for regulating thedischarge of material from" the hopper bottom to the roadbed as themachine is moved forward, ad-

iustable spreader meanssuppo'rted on the frame at an interval behind thehopper for spreading surplus material from. the hopper toward therunners, said runners extending rearwardly. in contact with spreadmaterial a sumcient distance to prevent sidewise sway of the machine dueto uneven spreading action on opposite sides of said plow.

-20. A road surfacing machine comprising in combination elongatedparallel runners, a horizontal elevated frame supported on said runners,a hopper and a plow supported by said frame between said'runners, andmeans for adjusting each of said runners 21 A road surfacing machinecomprising'in combinationelongated parallel runners, a hori-' zontalelevated frame supported on said runners, a hopper and a plow supportedby said frame between said runners, means for adjusting said runnerslaterally with respect to the frame, and wing extensions hinged to theends of said plow and adjustable to vary the effective width of theplow.

22. In a road surfacing machine, a hopper,

means for regulating the discharge of material from said hopper, astrike ofl member behind said hopper 'andspaced therefrom and having abottom shoe with a V section, said shoe having a laterally with respectto theframe; 4

bottom face of substantialwidth contact with theroad'materiainndfslopirigdown- I wardly and rearwardly at small angle tothe horizontal so as to impart'a' smooth surface tothe material beingspread.

.23.,A road surfacing machine comprising a' frame,-ahopper mounted onsaidrsframe, means for" regulating .the discharge of material from saidhopper, a leveling plow secured to said frame behind said hopper, and anobtuse angled scraping 'oriinishing plow supported by said frame behindthe leveling plow, means being provided for maintaining the lower edgeor the finishing plow lower than the leveling plow.

24. Aroad surfacing machine comprising an elongated hopper, a pair ofparallel runners extending rearwardly from said hopper outside the endsthereof and adjustable laterallyaway from the ends of the hopper, meansincluding said runners for preventing side sway of said machine,

, said means also including a substantial opening in each end of saidhopper anda plate projecting upward from each runner opposite theopening in the adjacent end of thehopper, and leveling means behind thehopper for spreading material discharged therefrom.

25. In a road surfacing machine,. a strikeoii. member mounted at anoblique angle tothe direction of travel of the machine, said memberhaving a bottom face of substantial width di- .rectly engaging the roadmaterial and sloping downwardly and rearwardly at a small angle to thehorizontal, an upstanding front face, and a rounded surface connectingsaid faces.

ALMA N. mcxnnson.

